As vehicle projects go sometimes, ours has been sitting longer than we’d like. When we last left the WJ, we had upgraded our miniscule stock wheels and tires with some nice, 17-inch Mickey Thompson Sidebiter IIs fitted with some aggressive 33-inch MTZs. Pair the upgraded shoes with previously installed 4-inch BDS Suspension lift, Bushwacker fender flares and Maaco paintjob and the WJ was finally starting to show some promise.
One of the biggest reasons we decided to tackle the WJ Grand Cherokee, aside from the fact it is the last live-axle Grand Cherokee before Jeep went to independent suspension, is because of the sheer volume of vehicles out there in the world. The WJ model was produced from ’99-’04 and there are literally thousands of these vehicles available, but most importantly, they can be had at a reasonable cost, making this Jeep an interesting proposition as a potential off-roader. The Wrangler may still be the choice for hard-core wheelers due to its off-the-shelf capability, but the WJ offers a few things that older Wranglers (like the TJ and YJ) do not: plenty of closed-cabin storage and a full backseat for passengers.
The initial WJ Grand Cherokee buyers likely purchased the vehicle as a family SUV, so not only can you find one now for a reasonable price but there’s a good chance the 4x4 models didn’t see a ton of trail action. Chances are there’s still plenty of life left in the Jeep. Since the WJ was billed more as a family wagon, the selection of aftermarket parts is harder to come by compared to a Wrangler. One of the toughest parts to source for our project was off-road bumpers, as the plastic stock bumpers not only provide little trail protection, but the low-hanging pieces also pose potential clearance issues as well.
Fortunately we stumbled across Trail Ready’s WJ bumpers. Available in raw steel or a powder-coated finish, Trail Ready’s bumpers are designed for maximum approach angle for significantly improved off-road clearance. Aside from that, the bumpers look much nicer and give the WJ a more aggressive appearance. The front bumper design incorporates an integrated skid plate, heavy-duty shackle mounts and a winch mount that will support up to a 9,500-pound-rated winc, which will immediately lend trail credibility to our family-wagon-styled Jeep. We were excited about Trail Ready’s offerings and ordered up both a front and rear bumper.
A few weeks later we took delivery on some impressive-looking new bumpers from Trail Ready, finished with a clean black powder coating. We went to work installing the front bumper from on our WJ, paying close attention to the included directions. As Trail Ready notes, this is one of its most complicated installations, as some models require the trimming of the grille and relocation of the windshield washer bottle.
With a full set of all the necessary hardware included with our bumper, we went to work. Here’s a breakdown of the installation for the Trail Ready Grand Cherokee front bumper installation.
CONTACT
Trail Ready
888/910-2999
TrailReady.com
More WJ Grand Cherokee Stories
Mickey Thompson Sidebiter II, MTZ Tires
BDS 4-inch Suspension Kit
Bushwacker Fender Flares, Maaco Paintjob